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Idukki (Keralam), Sep 5 (PTI) A youth landed in trouble after a photograph of him posing with plucked Neelakurinji flowers in Munnar here was posted on Instagram, prompting the Forest Department to initiate legal action against him, officials said on Saturday.
According to Forest officials, the youth had allegedly plucked the flowers and plants, decorated his hair with the flowers and posed holding a bunch of them in his hand.
The photograph came to the notice of the Forest Department, following which legal proceedings were initiated, officials said.
“We found that the person seen in the photograph is a native of Kuttiyar here. We have decided to register a case. First, we will prepare a report and file it before the court, after which an attempt
will be made to trace the suspect,” a Forest official told reporters.
Neelakurinji has bloomed this year at Chokramudi hills in Munnar, attracting large numbers of tourists to the area.
The Forest Department has already issued a directive prohibiting the plucking of the flower and plant, as they are protected species.
Neelakurinji is a purplish-blue flower that blooms only once in 12 years. PTI TBA TBA KH
